MANSFIELD — Allison Pence recently finished what may be her largest mural to date.
A renowned local artist, Pence completed a 20-by-30-foot mural inside the BlueScope recycling center, 2384 Springmill Road in Mansfield.
The educational artwork displays circular recycling for customers who drive through the center and adds vibrant colors to the large white wall.
BlueScope’s facility is one of two recycling centers located in Richland County, which influenced the mural’s design, said Savannah Vulgamore, senior environmental and sustainability coordinator at BlueScope.
“We wanted to provide kind of an educational purpose and a lot of what we do here as well,” she said of the mural. “Not only do we have the recycling center, but steel recycling is a large part of our business.
“We wanted the mural to represent our business, educational purposes for recycling and also give our customers a great view while they’re in here.”
Mural adds vibrant colors to recycling center
While completing the mural, Pence worked on a lift and wore personal protective equipment, including a hard hat, glasses, a reflective vest and steel-toe shoe caps.
It wasn’t the first time she’s painted while elevated in the air, but the artwork is likely the largest piece she’s completed to date.
“I just wanted to do something fun, bright and cheerful to bring some nice color into the space,” Pence said of the mural’s design.
The Mansfield artist spent time planning and creating mockups of the design, receiving approval from BlueScope’s headquarters in Australia.
Pence said she enjoyed getting to meet and work alongside recycling center employees during her days at BlueScope.
“They (employees) came and talked to me and we joked around,” she said. “I felt like it was a great work environment and great people around here. It was fun.”
BlueScope continuing to build community relationships
Since its 2022 acquisition of the former Milliron Recycling facility, Gordon Pomp, plant manager, has been eager to increase BlueScope’s presence in the local community.
He said part of the business building its relationships with the community involves utilizing local talent, such as Pence.
“This facility, its been here for quite a while, so its established a presence here,” Pomp said.
“Since the acquisition, we feel like we’re the new stewards of this place, so we have to maintain those relationships.”
Vulgamore said BlueScope employees recently volunteered during environmental events with the Richland County Park District at Gorman Nature Center and along the Richland B&O Trail.
Last year, the recycling center partnered with the City of Shelby to create a pollinator garden at Shelby’s Rabold Park.
“We want to do our part. We want to be part of the community and help however we can do that,” Pomp said. “We’re really interested in just fostering that and developing that.”
